Classy mare continues rise through the grades

WITH her main target for the season postponed until later in the year, classy mare Arabella Star will continue to be eased through the grades.

Setting the four-year-old for the New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge, astute horseman Adam Kelly, like so many trainers have had to, has altered his plans with the classy mare.

Originally programmed to be conducted last April, the Riverina Series, which culminates in a $100,000 Final, has been rescheduled for October.

“The Breeders’ Challenge remains the aim with her,” Kelly said. “It’s just later in the year now.

“For now I will just find the right races and take her slowly through the grades.

“She is a very nice mare which is capable of making her way into the better mares’ races as she goes along.”

Having her fourth starts since returning from injury, Arabella Star registered an effortless victory at Tabcorp Park Melton yesterday.

Driven by John Justice, the daughter of Sportswriter worked to the lead from barrier two before scoring by six-and-a-half metres from Itz Longtall Sally, with Son Of Major 12 metres away third.

Rating 1:56 over 2240 metres, Arabella Star stretched her record to six wins and nine placings from 18 starts for earnings of $61,900 for owner Claude Guido.

“She injured her nearside front tendon in a Victoria Oaks heat last season which had her out for six months, then after one start back at Bendigo in February she kicked out at the fence and hurt her nearside hint leg,” Kelly said.

“This was just her fourth start this time in and fifth in 15 months so she is coming along nicely.

“That run will tighten her right up and hopefully she can continue to go on with the job from here.”